How pestilential then!  But as it is, how salubrious the air that has swept over it!  He also referred to another case.  There was once (said he) a ship in a tremendous storm; the crew and passengers—­about 270 in number—­were at their wits’ end; nothing appeared before them but a watery grave.  On board of that ship was a poor prisoner, bound in chains.  He was deemed to be of the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things.  To that poor prisoner the angel of the Lord came, and told him what must be done to save the life of every one on board.  The angel’s directions were obeyed, and all were preserved.  Thus, for the sake of one of God’s people, were 270 lives spared.  He offered another illustration.  Three men came to converse with Abraham, on the plains of Mamre.  They told him that God was about to destroy five cities.  Abraham began to intercede for them.  The preacher recapitulated the wondrous story of this intercession and its success, as further proving that ungodly men owe the preservation of their lives to the presence and prayers of the people of God.  The parable of the tares was also cited, as illustrating the same position.  “Let both grow together until the harvest.”  Imagine (said he) all the people of God removed from the face of the earth—­no heart to love Him—­no tongue to praise Him,—­there would be no reason why the earth should be continued in existence another moment.  In the light of this subject, see how great a privilege it is to have pious relatives.  “Life” also was, in the third place, a part of the inheritance of the child of God, because during it he makes a provision for eternity.  He dwelt on the richness of the treasure which God’s people are laying up.  Suppose (said he) any of you were making money at the rate of fifty dollars an hour,—­(I dare say you do so sometimes, reflected I, when you get a good price for your “niggers,")—­how rich you would soon be! and how anxious that not a single hour should be lost!  But the child of God is laying up treasure at a faster rate than this.  Every time he works for God, he is laying it up.  The Christian’s treasure is also of the right kind, and laid up in the right place.  If any of you were going to emigrate to another country, you would be anxious to know what sort of money was current in that country, and to get yours changed into it.  The Christian’s treasure is the current coin of eternity.  It is also in the right place.  Where would you like to have your treasure?  Why, at home.  The Christian’s treasure is at home—­in his Father’s house.  Life is his also, because during it he fights the battles of the Lord.  Here the preacher made an approving reference to the war against the Mexicans; and I strongly suspect that this view of the Christian’s inheritance was dragged in for the very purpose.  We fight (said he) under the eye of the General.  We fight with a certainty of victory.  Death too was, in the fourth place, a portion of the Christian’s inheritance.  To the people of God curses are